c 58: Have You Heard? That Russell Mage
"Have you heard? The two mages who attended Thor's coronation the day before yesterday, the male one was called… what was his name again? Russell."
"He defeated Laufey, the King of the Frost Giants."
"Is that true? I've heard rumors that Russell Mage is only in his twenties and still looks like a child."
"How could someone like him defeat the Frost Giant King, who once fought against Odin, the All-Father?"
"You're behind the times. Queen Frigga has already ordered preparations for a celebration. This is absolutely true."
This was the conversation taking place during a grand banquet in Asgard.
Rumors like these were quickly spreading through the halls, catching the attention of nearly everyone in Asgard.
Nearby, a group of guards, who were off-duty, were also discussing this topic.
"It's unbelievable. It turns out that the Frost Giant King Laufey wasn't just defeated, but didn't even land a single blow."
"Are you certain this news is accurate?"
"The mighty Frost Giant King defeated in a single move? That's hard to believe."
"I've got a friend in the medical room, and he heard it from Fandral himself."
"Really? Fandral said it? That's terrifying! What kind of power does this Russell Mage have?"
One guard lowered his voice and whispered.
"Do you think the All-Father himself needed more than one move to defeat Laufey?"
"Watch your words!" The captain of the guard scolded the careless guard who had mentioned Odin so flippantly.
After a brief silence, one guard spoke again in a hushed tone.
"I think it might be true. Laufey's strength has been weakening ever since he lost the Ice Box during the Battle of Tønsberg over a thousand years ago."
"That makes sense," another guard muttered.
"Laufey is no longer the same threat he was when he fought Odin."
The guards exchanged thoughtful looks and nodded.
"Who is Laufey, though?" one of them mused aloud. "He was once a fearsome adversary, fighting against Odin himself in Midgard. Odin defeated him at the cost of one of his eyes. How could he be defeated with a single strike now?"
"I heard that Russell Mage did more than just defeat the Frost Giant King." A guard who had previously been scolded spoke up hesitantly.
"What? He defeated Laufey with just one punch? And knocked him back three thousand meters, causing him to vomit five hundred liters of blood? Is that even possible?" an Asgardian exclaimed in disbelief.
A man in the crowd, dressed as a bard, raised his hand to silence the commotion.
"I have special information channels," he whispered, "but I cannot say everything aloud. Those who know, know. And those who don't, shouldn't ask."
The crowd leaned in closer, eager to hear more.
The bard smirked and continued.
"Russell Mage didn't stop at just defeating Laufey. He cast a spell that knocked out tens of thousands of Frost Giant warriors all at once, leaving them unconscious."
"What?! That can't be true!" the crowd protested.
"Why not?" the bard shot back, his eyes narrowing. "Thor and his companions are back now. Volstagg and Fandral are recovering in the medical room. Go ask them yourself if you think I'm lying."
The group exchanged uneasy glances, unsure whether to believe such outlandish tales.
One person in the crowd muttered, "But Loki's a mage too. Why couldn't he do the same?"
Mention of Loki's name was met with a mix of amusement and sarcasm from many Asgardians.
"Loki? His magic is only good for mischief or tricking children."
"Hahaha!" Laughter filled the air, except for one lone Frost Giant who stood silent in the corner.
The bard smiled faintly and waited for the laughter to die down before continuing.
"Now, that's not even the most astonishing part. Russell Mage comes from Kamar-Taj, a legendary place in Midgard."
"Kamar-Taj?" one of the Asgardians asked. "What's that?"
"The Kamar-Taj is an ancient stronghold of magic, founded by the ancient god Agamotto. Agamotto, together with two other ancient gods, formed the Vishanti the source of all white magic."
"Enough with this nonsense. Get to the point!" someone interrupted, eager for more thrilling details.
The bard sighed but obliged.
"Alright, here's the best part. Russell Mage opened ten massive portals in the sky, right before Heimdall's eyes. You know what portals are, right?"
A man in the crowd nodded eagerly.
"There were ten stars on the other side of these portals. Russell pulled the light and heat from all ten of those stars and released them into Jotunheim."
The crowd gasped.
"That's right. Ten suns in the sky. The Frost Giants could do nothing but cower from the heat. The Frost Giant King Laufey himself cried out in surrender."
The crowd went silent, stunned by the revelation.
A moment later, someone spoke in disbelief. "Laufey… surrendered? A king… surrendering?"
"Why is that so hard to believe?" the bard replied. "What's more important to a king: his dignity or the survival of his people?"
No one answered immediately, but many looked down, considering the bard's words.
"Any other news?" someone asked, eager for more.
The bard grinned. "There's one more piece of exciting news."
The crowd leaned in closer, waiting.
"The Frost Beasts of Jotunheim? Russell froze one of them as tall as a mountain with a single touch. Turned it into an ice sculpture."
"Impossible!" the crowd reacted, unable to believe such a feat.
The bard repeated, "If you don't believe me, ask someone who was there."
"We believe you! What else?" the crowd pressed.
But as the bard continued to recount Russell Mage's incredible feats, the crowd began to disperse, their thirst for rumors quenched. Only one figure remained in the background, watching intently.
"Loki… Kamar-Taj… would you like to know more?" the bard asked with a knowing smile.
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